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New Jersey – Time for some Thursday Jets Whispers with some notes on the Jets’ safety situation, and a player they are very fortunate to have . . .
Ryan Fitzpatrick is playing on a very high level and the Jets are lucky to have him.
The Jets haven’t had quarterback play on this level in quite some time.
I understand there is an obsession about the arm strength, but I don’t share that obsession.
Bill Walsh always said that arm strength is overrated. It’s more about decision-making, pocket presence and accuracy, and in these three departments, he’s been terrific.
As we know, he’s so comfortable in Chan Gailey’s offense. And watching him play, that is quite apparent.
I thought he played really well against New England, and clearly wasn’t the reason the Jets lost.
There were two drives in particular where he was masterful. First was the touchdown drive that carried from the middle of the first quarter to the beginning of the second quarter. Here is a recap of the plays he made on that drive that was 14 plays and 83 yards.
*Fitzpatrick scrambled to the left side for a gain of 11.
*Fitzpatrick, under pressure from Akiem Hicks, hit Tommy Bohanon for a gain of 23 on the right side.
*Fitzpatrick threw a 17-yard out to Eric Decker on the left side.
*Fitzpatrick hit Jeremy Kerley on a quick slant for a gain of 12.
*At the start of the second quarter, Ryan Fitzpatrick scrambled right for seven yards
*Fitzpatrick hit Kerley on a quick slant for a touchdown.
In the middle of the third quarter, Fitzpatrick led the Jets on a 13-play, 80-yard TD drive.
*On a third-and-seven, Fitzpatrick was hit as he threw, but still completed a pass to Devin Smith for seven yards and a first down.
*Fitzpatrick hit Brandon Marshall for a gain of 13 on an out to the left side.
*Fitzpatrick rolled right and hit Jeremy Kerley for a gain of 10 on the right side.
*Fitzpatrick had a pass late in this drive that was an absolute thing of beauty. He hit Decker for a gain of 23 over the middle between two defenders – Malcolm Butler and Donta Hightower.
“They talk about the lack of arm strength for Fitzpatrick – watch this arm strength – a little sidearm shot on the money between two defenders,” said Dan Fouts.
Fitzpatrick hit Chris Ivory on the short right side for a nine-yard touchdown.
These were two masterful long drives against New England in Foxboro – not easy to do.
To me, this guy is playing on a high level, and I can’t imagine where the Jets would be without him right now . . .
With Calvin Pryor likely out, the Jets are down to two safeties – Marcus Gilchrist and Dion Bailey.
They will likely promote Ronald Martin or Rontez Miles from the practice squad.
One of the coaches today talked about how it’s not a crisis being so short-handed at safety because they cross-train the corners at safety.
I want to preface what I’m about to write by making it clear I wasn’t looking to create any waves.
I went over to a cornerback, who I will leave nameless because I don’t want him to get in trouble.
I asked him about being cross-trained to play safety, and he said he hasn’t been.
It wasn’t my intent to stir things up. I was just looking to hear from one of the corners on the cross-training. And he told me he wasn’t cross-trained.
The best cornerback option to move to safety is Darrin Walls due to his size and veteran status.
October 29, 2015
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